Since the start of the National Health Service (NHS), staff that provide care and treatment have collected information about the individual patient. Collected locally, this patient information is managed centrally by ISD Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive and NHS Scotland. 

The information held by ISD affords unique opportunities to understand and explore care. It is used to inform research, support decision making and stimulate debate, all with the ultimate aim of improving the life of Scotland's citizens.

ISD routinely publish official statistics through the information and statistics pages of this website.   If the information you require is not published you can request this through ISD's Information Request service.  This service is provided subject to resource constraints and a prioritisation process. Priority is given to NHS Scotland, Scottish Executive, partner organisations such as Local Authorities and drug agencies, Audit Scotland and independent contractors (dentists, GPs, opticians and pharmacists).

To use the Information Request service contact the Customer Support Desk on 0131 275 7777 or email at CSD@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk. Prior to this please check if  the information you require is readily available on the website. The A-Z index on the Information and Statistics page should assist with this.

For more details about the principles and procedures, which ISD follows in responding to  such enquiries please, view ISD's Information Requests Protocol (678KB).